Case Review
De-Mystifying the ICU
Using a case study, the presentation will walk attendees through the course of a client’s ICU admission. We will discuss ICU structure and team dynamics and familiarize attendees with ICU interventions and equipment. We will also discuss common medical and ethical decision-making that occurs in the ICU setting. Finally, we will highlight how patient advocates can optimize their role and effectiveness in coordinating care and communication while navigating a client’s ICU stay.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the key members of an ICU team, their roles, and how they interact with patients, families, and other hospital departments.
- Recognize common ICU interventions, machines, and terminology to better understand client’s conditions and the implications for advocacy and decision-making.
- Discuss how advocates can optimize the many “hats” they can wear when having a client in the ICU – medical interpreters, communication facilitators, protector of patient rights, and transition planner.
About The Speaker –
Angie Ingraham, MD, MS, FACS, BCPA, is a Board-Certified Patient Advocate and founder of True North Patient Advocates, LLC. A former trauma, emergency general surgeon, and critical care physician, Angie spent nearly two decades caring for seriously ill patients and conducting research to improve care coordination and communication. She was inspired to launch True North Patient Advocates™ after serving as an advocate for her father, who died of glioblastoma in 2021. Today, she helps individuals, their families, and caregivers navigate the healthcare system with clarity, confidence, and expert guidance. Drawing on both clinical and personal experience, she partners with clients and their healthcare teams to bridge communication gaps, support informed decision-making, and coordinate care across settings. Angie serves on the board of HealthAdvocateX, a national health advocacy non-profit organization, and is a member of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy and the Alliance for Professional Health Advocates.